Sharpening the Focus: A 52-Week Commitment to Photography

2026 is knocking on the door with increasing urgency. The wind gusts are growing fiercer, and Christmas songs are echoing louder in the streets. Above, the grey clouds are doing their part to set the scene in their own distinct, Belgian way.

As you can see, the stage is set. We are ready to make those “New Year’s plans” again. Even though 99% of our previous commitments failed in 2025, and in the years prior, some of us simply won’t stop making them. We are still driven by a hunger for achievement and that lingering feeling: “This year is the one. This time, I will make it happen.“

If you have a passion for photography and are looking for some photography challenge ideas that might actually stick next year, I strongly recommend looking into the 52Frames platform.

The concept is simple yet disciplined: You create an account, and for every week of the year, you submit one, and only one photo based on a specific brief. The challenges oscillate between technical drills and open-ended creative themes. Whether it is mastering a specific lighting technique or interpreting an abstract concept, I find it to be an invaluable method for keeping the shutter active and the creative mind sharp.

For a slightly different cadence, there is the 52 Week Prompt Challenge hosted by Chelsea London at Focal Point. Here, the structure offers more flexibility compared to the rigid weekly deadlines of 52Frames. You are presented with four prompts at the start of the month, allowing you to execute them in any order that fits your schedule.

The hub for this challenge is a vibrant Discord community where you can share your work and receive constructive feedback to refine your art. Beyond the challenge itself, Chelsea has also developed a highly efficient, and completely free 6-month photography course that is well worth exploring.

As for me? You can check my own track record on 52Frames here.

I started the challenge last year like many others, fueled by high hopes. However, my streak was interrupted after just the fourth week due to private matters. Surprised?

But I am giving it another shot. For 2026, I intend to be active on both platforms. My goal is to find myself uploading that final shots next December, closing the loop on a full year of creativity. Who knows? Maybe this time, I’ll make it stick.